Durham’s top doc encouraging eligible residents from Pickering to Clarington to get booster shot

Pickering | Clarington | Durham | Ontario | Whitby | COVID | Latest News | Politics |

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Published November 17, 2021 at 9:45 am

(Canadian Press) – As more Ontario regions contend with health system strain from rising COVID−19 infections, Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday that his government will keep relying on local medical officers of health to reinstate pandemic restrictions.

Health units covering the Sudbury and Algoma regions in northern Ontario have reinstated measures including business capacity limits in light of spiking cases. Ford’s Progressive Conservative government lifted those last month.

Ford said at a Tuesday news conference that the local approach makes sense because the risk is lower than in previous waves as more people are vaccinated.

He said the government decided on its plan after consulting with the province’s top doctor and medical officers for Ontario’s 34 health units.

“They felt that was the right plan to move forward, to have the flexibility,” Ford said in Toronto on Tuesday.

He said his government would also keep heeding the advice of the province’s top doctor.

Algoma Public Health noted particular concern in the northwestern border city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., on Monday, where the local hospital said the recent admissions spike could lead to cancelled surgeries and other issues.

Southwestern Public Health’s medical officer said Tuesday that the health unit was considering further pandemic measures, likely to be introduced next week, to alleviate pressure on the local health system.

“In the meantime, it is imperative that all of you continue to wear a face covering properly, limit your social circle, avoid crowds, close contact and enclosed spaces,” Dr. Joyce Lock said.

She did not offer specifics about the measures to come but said the health unit was looking at changes to capacity limits.

Lock also noted that the public health unit’s weekly incident rate per 100,000 is 68.1 and weekly per cent positivity is 5.1.

“These are both high and they are some of the highest numbers in the province,” she said.

The message from Dr. Robert Kyle, Durham Region’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, is also to exercise caution and, if you are eligible, to get your booster shot.

Kyle acknowledged the increase in new cases lately and a “a few days where cases have spiked” as justification for the Province to “pause” the lifting of certain restrictions and capacity limits but said getting vaccinated is the only way out.

Booster shot eligibility is now open to those who have received their second dose at least 168 days ago and are:

  • 70 and older
  • Health care workers and designated essential caregivers in congregate settings including long-term care home and retirement home staff, and designated caregivers
  • Individuals who received a complete series of a viral vector vaccine (two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine or one dose of the Janssen vaccine)
  • First Nation, Inuit, and Métis adults and their non-Indigenous household members
  • Residents who are moderately to severely immunocompromised and residents receiving immunosuppressive medication

The health unit covering Kingston, Ont., declared community spread on Monday – meaning COVID-19 cases and clusters have popped up in the community that can’t be connected to known sources of infection − and asked everyone to take caution.

Top public health doctor Dr. Piotr Oglaza urged all residents to monitor for symptoms and get tested and isolate if they appear.

“Unfortunately, our case investigations show that individuals are not always following public health guidance and are ignoring symptoms and delaying testing,” Oglaza said in a statement.

“If you feel sick, or even if you just have mild symptoms, make the responsible choice and get tested to protect yourself and your community.”

Ontario reported 481 COVID−19 cases and one more death from the virus on Tuesday as the seven−day average for daily infections climbed to 579, up from 492 a week ago.

Modelling released last week from the group of scientists advising the province on the pandemic found that the recent growth in cases was likely caused in part by lifted capacity limits and more indoor gatherings.

Experts with the COVID−19 Science Advisory Table said the case growth will likely continue along with intensive care admissions, but it’s unclear how steep the rise will be.

Visit www.durham.ca/covidvaccines for information on eligible populations and how to get a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

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